The 20 Things We Share
These aren't opinions — they're documented, researched, and true across party lines, zip codes, and generations. Click any card to read the full detail.
Family Comes First
“The love of a family is life’s greatest blessing.”
Americans across all backgrounds put family at the center of their lives.
Regardless of income, region, or background, family is the cornerstone of American life. Study after study finds that "family" consistently ranks as the single most important thing in Americans' lives — above wealth, fame, or career.
78% of United States adults consider spending time with family and loved ones a "very important" ingredient of a good life.
A Deep Love of Freedom
“Liberty is the breath of life to nations.”
Personal liberty is a bedrock American value — cherished left, right, and center.
Freedom — the ability to speak your mind, worship as you choose, build your own life — is embraced by overwhelming majorities across political, racial, and geographic lines. It is perhaps the most unifying thread in the American story.
92% of Americans consider freedom of speech essential to their own sense of freedom.
Belief in Hard Work
“There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.”
The idea that effort leads to success is embraced by Americans of every background.
The conviction that hard work can transform circumstances — regardless of where you started — is a deeply held American belief. Surveys consistently show strong majorities agree that hard work is key to getting ahead.
73% of Americans believe that hard work is "very important" to getting ahead in life, significantly higher than the global median.
Wanting Safe Communities
“Safety is not the absence of danger, but the presence of trust.”
Every parent, neighbor, and community member wants to feel safe at home.
Across partisan and geographic lines, Americans overwhelmingly agree that safe streets, safe schools, and safe neighborhoods are a priority. The debate is about how — not whether — to achieve it.
87% of Americans support the goal of investing in healthy, safe, and walkable neighborhoods.
The things we strive for reveal the things we share.
Value of Education
“Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.”
Americans believe in giving every child a quality education — it's not controversial.
From rural towns to urban centers, parents want their children to have access to a good education. The aspiration for learning and opportunity through schooling is near-universal.
84% of Americans support increased investment in public K–12 education to strengthen the national workforce and democracy.
Basic Fairness & Equal Rules
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
Americans believe the rules should apply to everyone — regardless of who you are.
The principle that no one is above the law and that everyone deserves a fair shot is foundational. Majorities across party lines support equal application of rules, even when they disagree on specific policies.
79% of Americans believe that fair and equal treatment under the law is a fundamental right that should be guaranteed to everyone.
Respect for Veterans & Service Members
“The willingness to sacrifice for others is the highest form of patriotism.”
Gratitude toward those who serve in uniform is one of America's most unifying values.
Support for veterans and military families consistently transcends partisanship. Honoring service and sacrifice is a shared value embraced by Americans of every political stripe, every region, and every background.
More than nine-in-ten Americans (over 90%) express pride in military troops and respect for their service.
Belief in Opportunity
“The doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live.”
The American Dream — that anyone can rise — still resonates deeply across generations.
The belief that opportunity exists and that one's circumstances can change through effort remains a powerful, unifying conviction. Most Americans, regardless of background, believe they live in a country where improvement is possible.
87% of Americans feel their family's journey resonates with a story of working hard and passing on a better life to the next generation.
Community isn’t built by agreement alone—it’s built by showing up for each other.
Pride in Community
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”
Americans love where they're from — their town, neighborhood, region, and roots.
Whether it's a small town in Montana or a neighborhood in Chicago, Americans feel deep attachments to their communities. Local pride — the pride of place — is a shared experience across the entire country.
71% of Americans agree there is more common ground among the American people than news media and political leaders portray.
Generosity and Kindness
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”
Americans are among the most generous people on Earth — in giving, volunteering, and mutual aid.
The United States consistently ranks among the top nations for charitable giving and volunteerism. When neighbors need help, strangers show up. This culture of generosity is deeply American.
Americans donated a record high of $557 billion to charity in 2023, driven by individual and corporate philanthropy.
Spirit of Innovation
“Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”
Americans love to build, invent, and solve problems — it's in our national DNA.
From the Wright Brothers to the internet, American ingenuity has shaped the modern world. Pride in entrepreneurship, invention, and finding new solutions is a broadly shared cultural value.
The U.S. ranked #1 globally for international trademark applications in 2024 and remains a top-tier source for global patent filings.
Love of the Natural World
“The earth does not belong to us; we belong to the earth.”
Americans are passionate about the beauty of this land — our parks, rivers, and skies.
National Parks are among the most beloved institutions in the country. Outdoor recreation, clean water, and breathtaking landscapes are things virtually all Americans want to protect for future generations.
74% of Americans across political lines believe the government should be doing more to combat the effects of climate change and protect natural lands.
The principles we hold dear cross every aisle and every border.
Respect for Spiritual Life
“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”
Americans honor the role of faith and spirituality — in many different forms.
Even as religious affiliation has become more diverse, the deep respect for the role of faith and spiritual practice in life remains broadly shared. Americans across denominations share values of compassion, grace, and service.
Nearly two-thirds of Americans (64%) call religion "very important" in their personal lives, and 72% believe in an afterlife.
Belief in Justice
“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”
Americans believe wrongdoing should have consequences — that no one is above the law.
Across party lines, Americans support the principle that laws must be enforced fairly and that those who harm others face accountability. This shared moral conviction forms the foundation of civil society.
81% of Americans agree that "Equal Justice Under the Law" is a founding principle that must be served and preserved for all.
Wanting Affordable Healthcare
“The health of the people is the foundation upon which their happiness depends.”
No one should go broke getting well. This belief crosses every party line.
While Americans debate the best path to affordable care, there is near-universal agreement on the goal: people should not suffer or go bankrupt because of medical bills. This is a shared moral commitment, not a partisan one.
88% of Americans believe the government should negotiate prescription drug prices to make them more affordable.
Faith in Democratic Ideals
“Democracy is not a spectator sport. It requires the active participation of all.”
Americans believe their voice should count — that government works for the people.
Participation in democracy — the right to vote, to petition the government, to hold leaders accountable — is a cornerstone value. Large majorities across ideological lines believe in the democratic process and its promise.
93% of Americans identify the right of every citizen to vote as a core value required to be "truly American".
Hope is not naive. It is the most practical force in a democracy.
Basic Human Dignity
“Every human being has inherent worth that no power on earth can diminish.”
Every person deserves respect — regardless of where they come from or what they believe.
The idea that every human being has inherent worth is a value embedded across America's religious traditions, secular philosophy, and legal history. Even in disagreement, most Americans do not want others to suffer needlessly.
77% of Americans view treating all people with dignity as a personally "very important" value.
Entrepreneurial Spirit
“The best way to predict the future is to create it.”
Americans admire people who build something from nothing — it's a national ideal.
Starting a business, chasing a dream, turning an idea into reality — entrepreneurship is among the most admired activities in American culture. This spirit of enterprise isn't partisan; it's American.
62% of Americans admire the drive of those who start their own business and believe entrepreneurship is a key to economic opportunity.
Protecting Children
“Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see.”
The safety and wellbeing of children is one issue where Americans have almost no disagreement.
Protecting children from harm, ensuring they are fed, educated, and safe — this is perhaps the single most unified value in the country. Across every political persuasion, Americans agree that children come first.
Over 3 million child welfare referrals are filed annually in the U.S., involving more than 5.5 million children.
Optimism About the Future
“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope.”
Deep down, most Americans believe tomorrow can be better than today.
Despite challenges and divisions, American optimism persists. The belief that the arc of progress bends toward better — that we can solve hard problems and leave a better world for our children — is enduringly American.
66% of Americans aged 50 and older remain optimistic and confident in receiving their future social safety net benefits.
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